Testing device



June 25, 1929. GAUTHlER 1,718,553

vTESTING DEVICE Filed July 18, 192'? Don/a7 A G/w'rn {ER attozmq 15 mine the distance which Patented June 25,

DOIA'! A, GAUTHIEB, OI DETROIT, IICKIGAN.

'rns'rme 'nmox.

Application 1101 July 18, 1917. Serial Io. 806,899.

This invention relatesto testing devices and particularly to such devices as are adapted to accurately determine the relation between the fuel consumption and the mileage of motor vehicles and the like. The principal ob'ect is to provide a testing device by whic the average vehicle owner may 'quickly, easily and accurately determine the relation between the fuel consumption and 1 the mileage of his vehicle. A further object is to provide a simple and compact article of manufacture within the means of the averagevehicle owner by which he may easily and accurately deterhis vehicle travels per unit of fuel. I i i The above being among the objects of the present invention thesame consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing,:and then claimed, having the above and otherobjects in view.

In'theaccom anying drawing- Fig. 1 is a si e elevation of a suitable embodiment of the present invention.

n Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken axially of the passages of the threewa valve employed in the device shown in ig. 1. r

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tube,- bulb or fuel measurin member employed in the device shown in ig. 1', thesame being shown with the sup and operative y connected to three-way valve.

Fig. Dis a fra 'mentary sectional view taken radially throng the shell of the device shown in Fig.1 centrally through one of the electrical terminals for the fuel pumping means.

, Fig. '5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig.1. w

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic sketch illustrating the system of operation of the device shown inFigJ.

It often occurs that the average motor vehicle owner'desires to know accurately the amountj-xif fuel under particular circumstances. {The only method the average owner has to determine the same is to note the speedometerreading when his fuel gage reads at a particular figure and after running a determined distance dividing the distance by the difierence in fuel gage readings, thereby "giving him an approximate figure. Inas- I much as the scales on such fuel ages are not devised so as to be-capable of c ose reading,

orting pads around the same and as such ga es themselves are notoriously inaccurate an at the best serve onl as an approximation of the amount of fue in the tank, and further as it is necessary to travel a considerable distance before it is possible to be able to determine by the gage the amount of fuel used, during which time the vehicle is usually forced to run at different speeds and over various-grades, the final result is correspondingl inaccurate. While the motorist may sometimes obtain suflicient apparatus to carry on t. practical and accurate test under predetermined conditions, it is almost impossible and very inconvenient in the majority of cases for this to be done, with aresult that except in properl equipped laboratories it is ahnost impossi le to obtain an accurate mileage test.

With the above in mind I have provided a device within the financial ability of the average vehicle owner by which he may quickly and accurately determine the distance his vehicle will travel on a given amount of fuel and under certain conditions- This device as indicated in the accompanying drawing comprises a vertically dis osed tubular member 10 provided with a ared base. 11. The member 10 is preferably formed of sheet metal and the base formed integrally therewith by spinning or the like and preferably flattened to provide a line contact supporting surface. A portion of the surface of the member 10 is cut away adjacent the lower end thereof and for substantially half of the circumference of the same to provide an opening which is closed by the removable cover 12 secured thereto by the screws 13, the cover 12 being formed to substantially the same shape as the metal removed to provide the opening beneath the same. Within the interior of the member 10 and immediately back of the cover 12 I place a fuel pump 14, pref erably of the electrically 'actuated type now 'common'on the market in which a metallic bellows member (not shown) is expanded and distance which his vehicle travels on a given contractedby a solenoid or magnet (not shown) to cause the flow of fuel through the 12, I provide a three-way valve or cock the 'IlO - body of which is indicated by the numeral 18,

4 ed to hold the same out "the bulb 23 may be at it being secured in fixed relation within the member 10 by the angle connections 19 and 20 in a manner similar to which the fuel pump 14 is secured in place. A short tube 21 and con nection 22 joins the angle connections 17 and 20 to provide a continuous passage between the same; .Positioned above the valve 18 within the member 10 is a tube, bulb or measuring member 23 having a lower reduced end 24 which is joined to the upwardly projecting boss 25 of the valve'1'8 by the sleeve 26 which may be formed of rubber or other suitable material so as to provide a fluid tight joint between "the same. Padding bands 27 are provided about the bulb 23 and are adaptof contact with the walls of themember 10 and to prevent the same from relative movement in respect thereto. The bulb 23 is supported within the tube 10 from the valve 18-through the sleeve 26. The upper end of the bulb is reduced as at 28 and preferably flared outwardly again to form a funnel like upper end 29. The size of the bulb is preferably such that from a line such as 30 in the narrow neck portion 28 to a similar line 31 in the narrow neck portion 24, it holds a decimal part of the unit of measurement of fuel which the'owner wishes to employ in testing, preferably one-tenth of a gallon in those countries in which a gallon is the standard unit of measurement for fluids. A slot such as 32 is provided in the face of the member 10 extending from a point above the line 30 to a point below the line 31 in order that the level of fuel within all timesunder direct attention of the eye. If desired a portion of the member 10 maybe removed in line with the slot 32 in the plane of the funnel end 29 and provided with a removable cover 33 which may be removed, if an occasion shouldarise, to inspect the level of the fuel within the funnel end 29 for the purpose of introducing fuel into the bulb 23 through the same. A cover such as 34 is preferably provided in the upper end of the member 10 to close the same.

The lead wires 35 and 36 from the pump 14 are each preferably secured tothe side walls of the member 10 as indicated in Fig. 4 in which an opening 37 is provided, a stud 38 extending through the same and insulated from the wallsof the member 10 by the washers 39 and 40, the lead wires being secured to the inner ends of the studs 38 by a nut such as 41. A nut member 42 threaded on thestud exteriorly of the member 10 prevents axial movement or rotation'of the same and a thumb screw 43 is further provided for the attachment of leads to a source of electric energy such as a battery.

Fig. 2- illustrates the construction of the valve 18 which is provided with the boss or-,.

tions 44 and 45 throughzwhich and the oss 25, the openings 46,47 and 48 respectively extend. The rotatable plug portion of the valve 49, which may be rotated by the handle secured thereto is provided with threeconnec'ting openings which act to connect the openings 46, 47 and 48 when the plug portion 49 is turned by the handle 50 to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2. The angle connection 20 is threadably received within the boss portion 44 and the angle connection 19 is threadably received within the boss portion 45 in the usual manner. f

In practice theabove described device is employed in the following manner. The device is supported vertically on .the floor of the driving compartment of the vehicle to be tested.-' The fuel pipe leading to the carburetor from the vacuum tank, fuel pump or other fuel supplying means employed on the vehicleangle connection 16 with a suitable source of fuel such as atank, jar or the like which maybe placed beside the testing device in the driving compartment of the vehicle being tested, or any other suitable place on the same. An electric connection is then made between the studs 38 on the ends, of the wires 35 and 36 of the fuel pump and 'a suitable source (if electrical energy such as a battery or switch terminals on the vehicle. Upon connection of the wires 35 and 36 with a'suitablesource of electrical energy the fuel pump 14 immediately begins to pass fuel from the tank or jar 55 through the tube 54 and through the pump 14 to the valve 18. If the valve plug 49 is turned to the position indicated in Fig. 2, in which position the handle 50 assumes acorresponding position indicated by the solid lines, the fuel is caused to pass through the passage 47 through the plug 49 and intothe passage 48 from-which it is conducted by-the angle connection19 and tube 52 to'the carburetor 53. At the same time in the passage 47 will be caused to flow up into the tube 23 and. the flow of the fuel through the passage 48 to the carburetor 53 will be cut off. If the handle 50 is now rotated to the position indicated as 50" in Fig. 2 the passage of the fluid through the passage 47 will now be stopped and fuel will be allowed to flow. only from the bulb 23 downwardly 1 through the passages 46 and 48 to the carburetor 53. If the handle 50 is turned to the 7 position indicated by the numeral'50' the fuel entering the passage 47 will pass directly to the passage 48 an passage of fuel throughthe passage. 46 will be prevented.

In practice I prefer to use the above described device in the following manner. Af-

ter connecting it up with the carburetor 53 and with a tank or jar of fuel 55 as above described, I place the'handle 50 in the position indicated by the full line 50 in Fig. 2 and allow the fuel to pass up through the passage 46 in the bulb 23 until it reaches the line 30 i at which time I turn the handle 50 to the positon indicated'by the dotted line.5()" in which position the fuel within the bulb 23- is held at aconstant level at theline 30 and all the fuelpassing through the pump 14 is passed directly to the carburetor 53. An alternate method of filling the bulb 23 isto turn the handle 50 to the position indicated by the dotted lines 50' in which position all the fuel from the pump 14 passes into" the bulb 23. In either case, when the fuel in the bulb 23 has reached the line 30, the handle 50 is turned to the position indicated by the dotted lines 50'. I then drive the vehicle to the particular stretch of road upon which I desire to do the testing. Upon reaching this desired stretch of road I observe the speedometer mileage indicating scale and as it reaches a predetermined point and the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed I turn the handle 50 to the position indicated as 50 in Fig. 2, in which the passage of fluid from the passage 47 is stopped and the only fuel passing to the carburetor is that from thebulb 23. Watching the level of the fuel in thebulbv 23 through the slot 32 and keeping the vehicle at a constant desired speed, I continue to drive the vehicle along the road until the level of the fuel in the bulb 23 has dropped to the line 31 at which time I note the speedometer again'and take the reading'of the same. By

then obtaining the difference between the firstand last reading on the speedometer and knowing the volume of the fuel carried by tion to determine the rate at which the fuel was consumed in relation to the distance which was covered. If the volume of the tube 23 between the lines 30 and 31 is onetenth of a gallon or other unit as suggested above, I have only to multiply the speedometer reading by ten in orderto obtain the distance which. the vehicle at that speed and on the samety'pe of road will travel on a whole .unit of measurement of the fuel, thus substan- .tially eliminating any calculation whatsoever. 7

While I haveabove described in the method of operation that I introduce only suflicient fuel in the bulb 23 to bring it u to the level of the line 30, it is ofcourse un erstood, thatv I this is desirable but not necessary, but that the fuel ma be allowed to extend'over the line 30, an when the fuel'is being drawn from the bulb 23 during a testing 0 eration the first speedometer reading may taken the moment the level of the fuel becomes coincident withthe line 30, the remaining operations being carried out as described above.

The bulb 23 is provided-with the reduced neck portions 24 and28 in order that the volume of fuel being used maybe quickly determined and with as little guess work as is practically possible, the fuel in the neck portions 24 and 28 being but slightl affected by any inclination of the axis .of Hi the vertical and the fuel in passing the same as it is drawn out of the bulbl23 moving with comparative rapidity as compared with its the device is compact and relatively self con-' tained whereby the use of the same is exceeding l'y simplified.

Although I have described the above device as employed in connection with the testing of automobiles only, it will be apparent that its use is not restricted to this purpose only, but ma equally well be employed in the testing 0 boats or aeroplanes, or in connection with dynamometertests or engines or, in fact, for any purpose where the rate-of consumption of fuel is desired to be determined.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is: I 1. In combination. a tubular casing, a pump in said casing, fittings for the inlet'and outlet of said pump extending through the walls of said casing and supporting the pump movement within the body of the bulb 23.

thereby, a three way valve in said casin fittings forsaid. valve extending throug the walls of said casing and supporting said valve thereby, and a visual measuring container within said casing connected to said valve.

2. In combination, a tubular casing, 11

pum within said casing, inlet and outlet mem ers for said pump projecting through the walls of said caslng and supporting said pump therefrom, a valve device within said casing, inlet and outlet connections for said valve projecting through the walls of said casing and supporting said valve device therefrom; the outlet from" the inlet to said valve being connected, and a vlsual measuring device within and protected by'said casing connected to'said valve.

device. 7

j 3; In combination, a tubular casing, a

pump within said casing, inlet and outlet members for said pump projecting through the walls of said casing and supporting said pump therefrom, a valve device within said casing,inlet and outlet connectlons for said valve projecting throughthe walls of said casing and supportin said valve device therefrom, the outlet from said pump and the inlet to said valve being connected, and a visual measuring device within andprotected by said casing connected to said valve device, saidmeasuring device being supported by said valve device.

4. A portable, fuel mileage testing device comprising, in combination, a tubular metal shell, an electric fuel pump within said shell,

an inlet connection member for said pump projecting through the walls of said shell and being formed exteriorly thereof to readily receive a flexible tube, a three way valve withinsaid shell connected to the outlet of said pump and being provided with, a discharge. connection projecting through the walls of ,said shell and formed exteriorly thereof to readilyreceive a flexible-tube, a transparent measuring bulb within said shell connected to saidWalve, and a slot in said casing for permitting visual inspection of said bulb from the outside of said shell, said valve permitting said pump to be connected. to said bulb or to said discharge connectionjsepw rately, or to both simultaneously,

5. A portablefuel mileage testingdevicer" comprising, in combination, a support, fuel pumping means carried bynsai having an inlet and an outlet,

ms-a akniea uring bulb carried by said support, a discliargeicom j nection adapted to be connectedtoacarbuitet or, means connecting the outlet of said'pu'mp with said bulb and with said discharge connection, and a'three-way valve*'included in .said means and'operable at will to connect said pump outlet with said bulb only, to con- 'tion, a support, an electric pump carried by said support, a measuring bulb carried by said support, a discharge connection, an inlet connection for the inlet side of said pumpi and means connecting the outlet side of sai pump with the bottom end of said bulb and with -s aid-tdischarge connection, saidmeans including a three-way valve operable at will to-connect said pump and said bulb independently of-said discharge connection, to connect said pump and said discharge connection independently of said bulb, to connect said bulb and said discharge connection independently of said pump, or to connect said pump to-said taneously. a Y v :7. A portable-' 'fuel mileage testing device for automobiles comprising, in combination,

a support, an electric fuel pump on said support, afmeasuringbulb on said support hav mg reduced end portions each of which is provided with a mark thereon defining limits 70. bulb and to 'sa-id'dischargetconnection 'simulbetween which a decimal part ofa unit of, 1

fuel measurement may be contained in said bulb, athree-way valve on said'support, said three-way valve being connected to the outbeing movable at will to selectively connect themtogether.simultaneously. v I

let side of said pump, to the lower end of said bulb and to said discharge connection'andf ,said pu p, said bulb and said discharge conj .1 "nectionjin pairs only or to connect all of noNAr' A. eniiiriimii, 

